I recall from my first cruise, passengers coming back aboard at Trinidad telling others not to go ashore because of the squalor and unfriendly nature of the natives.

More recently the same was true in Port au Prince for the same reasons.

On this website during this year there was input from a North American lambasting the nude beaches on the island of St Maarten.

Early this year on a visit to Granada our tour guide sang praises to Castro and criticized North Americans for their crude and arrogant behaviour.

We don't appear as we travel the Caribbean to be to be very tolerant of other countries and their cultures. Is this true, and does it matter anyway.

P.S. I love the Orient Beach in St. Martin!

Regards...Bob

I am actually practicing what I preach, by escorting large groups of passengers on cruises with the goal of reaching out to the local, more needy people in the ports. In the past we have put on concerts for the locals, in one port in Roatan, we fed 1800 people. Our passengers visit orphanages, and bring gift packets to give to the more needy. I have started a program that is really starting to take off, because there are a lot of people in this country who would really enjoy a cruise vacation, but they would also enjoy doing something constructive, by reaching out to the more needy. Our passengers are involved in humanitarian efforts in the various ports. We call it a Cruise With A Purpose.

The danger of cruising is that it can wrap the passengers up in cotton wool. The passengers can almost become like visitors to a Zoo - the ports of call become the exhibits. After they have observed the local 'species', they retreat once more to the safety of their cocoon for a Bud, a Steak and a Broadway show!

On the other hand, I am making a rather broad generalisation! Many cruises of full of intelligent folk who are genuinely interested in experiencing different cultures. Many cruise lines provide excellent onboard lectures on the history, culture and the environment of the various ports of call.
The increasingly diverse range of destinations such as South America and even Antarctica suggest that not everyone is purely in search of a good beach. (Mind you, in the trade it is sometimes called 'Soft Adventure')

On the other hand, though it may be only a glimpse of a few hours, I do get to see that glimpse. I remember being very impressed with the obvious pride that our buggy driver in Nassau displayed for his country. His description of their laws and a few of their customs made it clear that he was very proud to be Bahamian. It made me wonder how many taxi drivers in my own country (U.S.A.) would show a similar pride to a tourist who will only be around for a few hours. I was certainly enriched by my brief encounter. I hope I did nothing to offend those gracious hosts.

We too have cringed at the boorish behavior of many of the American tourists whom we have encountered on our Asian Voyages on Messageries Maritimes, a French "paquebot" line.

And, in the past few days, we have also cringed at the boorish behavior of a few of our Olympic athletes!

We remember the American couple who disdained the delicious french casseroles with "They always serve leftovers."
The same couple went ashore in Bangkok to seek out Palmolive Soap. (No kidding, this was their only reason to debark in this fascinating city.

Then there was the loud-talking (but thankgod small)"Four Winds" tour group who loudly dispensed the following as we were entering Hong Kong Harbor and passing an American Aircraft Carrier.

"Hey, they're taking down the flag!"
"Now they're putting it up again!"
"Why can't those idiots make up their minds!"

They, of course, were observing the traditional dipping of the colors as our French Vessel passed the American Warship. Was I going to straighten them out? No!

My wife and I seek out those from other countries, particularly on passages like this. We shared a table with a stuffy but delightful British Brigadier right out of the Cinema, who regailed us with tales of "Malaya(h);" a planter from Kenya who was on Holiday; oil executives from (then) BP-Aden with whom we still maintain correspondence; and assorted diplomats and functionaries from all over the globe.

We treasure such encounters, they will not take place again. And, on a Caribbean cruise, I suspect you probably will not meet such.....Pity!

[This message has been edited by Cambodge (edited 10-03-2000).]

I think it is fair to say that these kind of things happen in all countries not just in the US, those kind of people that Sympatico spoke about are around everywhere, on a recent cruise we found a few fellow Brits had gone ashore had a quick walk round port, then decided to form an a very strong opinion of the country they were visiting, when they actually had seen only a very small area. Its very difficult to actually see very much of a country in only one day and experience its culture, so people should keep this in mind when making sweeping judgements.

However, I think very few Brits would expect British currency to be accepted anywhere other than in a British country, when I have seen persons from the US repeatedly ask in European countries if they would accept dollars, I have even seen it in the middle of Paris without so much as a Bon Jour, but considering the size of the population in the US I am sure this is only a small percentage, and certainly no one that posts to this board .

There must be an explanation for this I am sure, what do you think? Why would anyone think that their currency would be accepted in the middle of any large European City??

As M.S.Grumple says above (and everyone think about this) yes we always cringe and feel embarrassed when it is a fellow countryman that is rude or being obnoxious or making a fool of themselves, but when its someone from another country we couldn’t care less, could we.

Conversations briefly monitored:

"Well then ah ordered mah wingman to...."
"Then I tried [incomprehensible drug name] but my HMO wouldn't...."
"I brought this to the attention of my Exec. and he...."
" Then I tried a 5 iron, and ......."
And maybe on a larger ship I would hear:
"Thank you, Paine Weber."

quote:

---

Originally posted by jean elmore:
always love your posts sympatico, when I was in TO this summer, my niece gave me a Tshirt with the words from the Molsons "I am Canadian" ad, I love it, I`m leaving for Europe in the am. so will "see" you all in 4 weeks, jean.

---

I have read Michener's Caribbean and loved it.

Judy

What I should have said was - that they expect their currency to be accepted in cities in Europe - I have seen this happen several times, I realise in places like Russia and a few other countries - yes the dollar is preferred, but in most other European countries this is not the case - so why should they think that US currency would be accepted in Europe.

Cheers
M.

An interesting thing to remember is that the title was also a pun. One of the main characters in the book was a physically unattractive U.S. citizen (THE Ugly American) who was also a caring and compassionate human being whose efforts to help the populace of the poor third world country was being thwarted by the well-groomed attractive Americans working for the U.S. government. The author clearly understood that even apt generalizations are only that, and cannot be a basis for judging individuals.

Well I did say above:

quote...

I have even seen it in the middle of Paris without so much as a Bon Jour, but considering the size of the population in the US I am sure this is only a small percentage, and certainly no one that posts to this board.

Unquote...

I am not knocking the American, far from it, we have both relatives and close friends who are American and they do not act like this, but I cannot get away from the fact that I have seen it so many times in both Capital Cities of Europe and the Highlands of Scotland, where it is asked if the US dollar will be accepted, I have even seen people in the Highlands hand over a whole pile of coins in local currency and tell the shop assistant/keeper to take what the cost of the purchase is out of it.

I am quite aware that their are "goofballs" in all nationalities, but I can't get my head around why folks would think that in the middle of Paris or in the Highlands of Scotland that the US dollar would reign.

Cheers
M.